Max Verstappen on Helmut Marko's exit: All good things come to an end

Verstappen will have many changes to deal with as he heads into the 2026 F1 season.

Not only will the car he drives change based on the new regulations, but he will also race with #3 instead of #1 after losing the Championship in 2025 to Lando Norris.

Verstappen will also race with a Red Bull Ford Powertrains power unit bolted to the back of his RB22 after Honda left and joined Aston Martin for 2026.

However, the one change that may be the most significant for the Dutchman will be the absence of Marko in the Red Bull Racing garage.

The Austrian announced his retirement days after the conclusion of the 2025 F1 season and the final race in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking during the Red Bull launch event held in Detroit earlier today, Verstappen was asked about Marko's absence.

He revealed: “We had a very emotional call after Abu Dhabi. It will be a bit different. All good things come to an end at some point.

“We’ll see each other around anyway. If I’m going to Graz, we’ll have lunch together! We have achieved so many great things together.

"That will always stay on our minds," Verstappen concluded.

One of the last decisions Marko had a hand with before leaving Red Bull was the promotion of Isack Hadjar to replace Yuki Tsunoda alongside Verstappen.

Hadjar was asked about his feelings to race within Red Bull without being under the watchful eyes of Marko; he said: “Having Helmut gone is a bit sad, to be honest.

"I enjoyed having him in the paddock, but he's still around; I still give him calls," the Frenchman added. (Source: Sky Sports F1)